The USOC selects the firm of Spencer Stuart to find a new CEO. Acting CEO Stephanie Streeter says she will not apply for the post, which is supposed to be filled by the end of 2009.

Along with today’s announcement of the search firm, the USOC also announced the nine members of the Chief Executive Officer Search and Screening Committee. Previously named as chair is USOC Board member Bob Bowlsby. He will be joined by USOC chair Larry and USOC board member Mike Plant. Other members come from the U.S. Olympians Association and the National Governing Bodies Council.

Founded in 1956, Spencer Stuart has 51 offices in 27 countries. Last year, it conducted 4,500 executive assignments, according to the company's Web site.

Munich Gift for German Olympians

Germany’s winter Olympic athletes were presented with traditional Bavarian gingerbread hearts with a message from the Munich 2018 bid team on Thursday.

At their official apparel outfitting for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, the athletes were given the “Lebkuchenherzl” containing the words “Munich 2018 in the heart”.

Bernhard Schwank, the bid’s joint managing director and Germany’s “Chef de Mission” for the Feb. 12-28 Games, said: “We are delighted to pass on best wishes to our Olympic athletes for Vancouver 2010.

“It is wonderful to have the German team here in Munich; it has already created a fantastic Olympic atmosphere in our city. So many of these athletes dream about performing at the Olympic Winter Games in their own country and we are determined to help them realize their dreams.”

Munich faces competition from the French Alpine town of Annecy and South Korean city PyeongChang in the 2018 bid race. It is trying to become the first city to host the Summer and Winter Games, after staging the 1972 Olympics.

US Speedskating looks to USOC for help

US Speedskating is in conversations with USOC about ways to overcome a shortfall.

Last week, US Speedskating announced that the bankruptcy of Dutch NSB Bank hurt the finances of the organization.

US Speedskating is facing a $300,000 shortfall for the rest of the year with less than four months until the Vancouver Olympics.

US Speedskating CEO Bob Crowley met with USOC Team Leader for the Winter Olympic Sports Alan Ashley this past weekend to discuss ways to overcome the shortfall.

"They discussed with Bob Crowley some ideas to bring in some more revenue for the rest of the season," Peri Kinder, spokeswoman for US Speedskating told Around the Rings . "We have also been in contact with a couple of people that would like to help out and we are working through that right now. Hopefully, we can create a partnership with some of these people.

"Nothing definitive has been reached and the USOC hopes help to alleviate some of our financial stress right now but again that has not been agreed to at all. We are definitely working on it but nothing has been resolved as of today."

US Speedskating has an annual budget of $3.8 million. The Deseret News reports that US Speedskating received $2 million from the USOC in 2008.

Queen Elizabeth gives the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton to Indian President Pratibha Patil at Buckingham Palace on Thursday. (Getty Images)

Queen's Baton Relay Begins

Queen Elizabeth II and India's President Pratibha Patil launched the baton relay for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

The ceremony at Buckingham Palace showcased India's culture before the Queen handed the baton to Patil, the first head of state to attend the ceremony.

The Queen's Baton contains a message from the Queen to the athletes. It will travel to 71 countries in 340 days. The message will be read out loud at the opening ceremony on Oct. 3.

2010 Asian Games going Smokeless

The Organizers of the 2010 Asian Games in Ghuangzhou, China, are banning tobacco products and sponsorships.

The Guangzhou Games said it is adhering to IOC rules that prohibit tobacco products inside venues and from organizers from accepting from tobacco companies.

The 16th Asian Games will be held in Guangzhou from November 12 – 27.

Smoking will be prohibited in hospitals, hotels, sporting venues, restaurants and bars. In addition, the ban will extend to indoor areas of non-competition venues including media centers and transportation operated by Games’ organizers.

Briefs …

…. Olivier Niamkey of the IOC and Farman Haider of the Olympic Council of Asia arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday. They met with Thong Khon, president of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia. Khon asked for support for Cambodian athletes, coaches and sports officials in the form of scholarships and training in and outside the country.

…The 2010 Beyond Sport Summit will take place Sept. 27-30 in Chicago. The mission of Beyond Sport is to celebrate and support the use of sport as a vehicle for positive social change